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I had this movie when it came out on DVD but somehow my daughter borrowed it and I could not bring myself to ask it back, so I purchased it again at Amazon. I love this movie so very much.
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I have seen so many, many movies but this one I think has to be my all time favorite. The whole setting of the liberal arts college, the 50s conservative setup in which the college dwells so firmly in, and the magical aura of a bygone era captivates you right form the start of the film. Top that with some beautiful photography, a nice gripping story and some convincing performances and you've got a great film.
This is a movie that will lift you up and make you smile. Katherine Watson (Julia Roberts) Encourages students to reject conformity in any form and pursue careers rather than settle down as housewives. Colleagues advise the new professor that the trick to surviving Wellesley is to go unnoticed, as too much independence frightens administrators, who she is told have claws under their gloves.
With this movie, I think many people will discover that not only students learn from teachers, but everyone learns from others.
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I loved this movie to death. It really had me wanting to cry at times, laugh at times, and scream at times and that to me defines the perfect movie.
In the movie Katherine Watson (Roberts) comes to teach at Wellesley College for girls and brings with her a liberal prospective on female rights. When she starts teaching the girls that their standards of being a housewife are wrong she faces some harsh comments mainly from Betty Jones (Dunst) but she also finds acceptance with some of the girls. At the end it finally has some sort of resoultion to the Katherine and Betty fued because Betty realizes she has more potential than what she thought.
I liked the way we got to see bits and pieces of the girls lives but mainly Katherine's because that made you feel all the more connected to the girls. If you want a movie that will make you feel happy to be a woman now days this is it.
Penny Lane
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This is a great "chick flick" movie, one I've watched many times already.
When I first watched it, the film brought back painful memories. I can see how my mother, who came from a family of career women (although typical "female" professions such as School Teacher and Nurse), was frustrated at being shoved into the box of housewife and mother. She was never happy in that role, and after seeing this movie, I can see what tremendous pressure women were under back in the 1950's to conform. When she got married, my mother gave up a job she enjoyed because my father and society expected her to do so.
My mother did not get a college education because my grandfather did not think it was worth educating girls; her brother got the college education. Seeing these bright college girls in the movie was sad, because you knew almost all of them would never use what they learned.
I went to college in the 1970's and was still getting ribbed by older men as getting my "MRS" Degree, snicker, snicker. I never found that joke funny and I still don't. This movie gives the origin of that attitude that still is prevalent today. A college educated woman is still not worth what a college educated man is; otherwise, women's salaries would be on equal par with men's in all professions.
The superb costumes and hairstyles reflect the period and were historically accurate, except Julia Roberts' hair seemed a bit too contemporary at times. Yes, she was portrayed as a Bohemian Feminist from California, but her hair and makeup lacked that fifties Bohemian look. (Note Audrey Hepburn's Hair and Makeup in 1957's "Funny Face.")
The soundtrack was also excellent, reflecting the time period and popular music of the 1950's.
I would LOVE to see a sequel, featuring all the same characters 10-11 years later, around 1963-64. That was such a turbulent year, and I'd love to see how these characters were affected by the political changes and climate of that time.
Rating:  -
This movie was based on an interesting and promising idea: gender roles in the 1950's all-woman conservative college being challenged by a feminist teacher (from California...where all the hippies are, doncha know?).
Unfortunately the film loses its focus a little, largely due to its big cast. Julia Roberts does a good job as the teacher and Julia Styles, Kirsten Dunst and the other "girls" also do well, but not enough time is given to each of their characters so we end up with highly emotive performances from all of them which seem to have little context.
Certain things don't seem to make sense either: *spoilers ahead*
Katherine's engagement mid-movie to a man we only saw her chat on the phone to once; her love affair with the Italian teacher whom she KNOWS has been sleeping with the female students; her weird relationship with the "landlady" where she lives.
I've got quite a few complaints about the cast of "girls" but I'll stick with my biggest beef about Kirsten Dunst's character who goes from absolutely HATING Katherine to loving her and tearfully riding her bicycle after Katherine's taxi at the end. What changed in their relationship? Kirsten Dunst's character got a divorce. Confused? Me too. It just didn't make sense.
There is also little resolution as we never find out if Katherine decides to return the following year.
This is quite a watchable movie and it is enjoyable - that is if you don't look at it or think about it too closely.
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